Sri Ranganatha Ashtakam Meaning:

(My Mind delights in the Divine Form of Sri Ranganatha) That Form (resting on the Adisesha) absorbed in Bliss (Ananda Rupe), and immersed in His Own Self (Nija Bodha Rupe); That Form embodying the essence of Brahman (Brahma Svarupe) and the essence of all the Shrutis (Vedas) (Shruti Murti Rupe),
That Form Cool like the Moon (Shashanka Rupe) and having Exquisite Beauty (Ramaniya Rupe);
My Mind delights in the Divine Form of Sri Ranga (Sri Ranganatha) (That Form fills my being with Bliss).

(My Mind delights in the Divine Plays of Sri Ranganatha) Those Plays of Him, showering Compassion at the bank of river Kaveri (just like its gentle waves); Those Plays of Him assuming Beautiful Sportive Forms at the root of the Mandara Tree,
Those Plays of His Incarnations slaying the Demons in all the Lokas (Worlds);
My Mind delights in the Divine Plays of Sri Ranga (Sri Ranganatha) (Those Plays fill my being with Bliss).

(My Mind delights in the various Abodes of Sri Ranganatha) That Abode of Him dwelling with Devi Lakshmi (in Vaikuntha), Those Abodes of Him dwelling amidst all the beings in this World (in Temples), That Abode of Him within the Lotus of the Hearts of the Devotees (as Divine Consciousness), and That Abode of Him within the Orb of the Sun (the Sun representing the Image of the Divine),
That Abode of Him in the acts of Compassion, and That Abode of Him within the Excellent Virtues;
My Mind delights in the various Abodes of Sri Ranga (Sri Ranganatha) (Those Abodes fill my being with Bliss).

(My Mind delights in the Worship of Sri Ranganatha) The Worship performed by Lord Brahma and other (Gods); The Worship performed by the Devotees (considering Him) as the One Lord of the Universe; The Worship performed by Sri Mukunda, and the Worship performed by the Chief of the Suras (i.e. Indra Deva),
The Worship performed by Sage Vyasa and other (Sages); The Worship performed by Sage Sanaka and other (Kumaras);
My Mind delights in the Worship of Sri Ranga (Sri Ranganatha) (His Worship fills my being with Bliss).

(My Mind delights in the Lordship of Sri Ranganatha) Who is the Lord of Brahma, Who is the Lord of Garuda, Who is the Lord of Vaikuntha and Who is the Lord of the King of Suras (i.e. Indra Deva),
Who is the Lord of the Three Worlds, Who is the Lord of All the Worlds;
My Mind delights in the Lordship of Sri Ranga (Sri Ranganatha) (His Lordship fills my being with Bliss).

(My Mind delights in the Auspicious Divine Sleep of Sri Ranganatha) That Posture of Unfailing Rest (which nothing can disturb), That Complete Sleep (which is full with Fullness), That Auspicious Yoga Nidra (which is absorbed in Itself in Fullness), (and) That Posture of Sleeping over the Milky Ocean (and controlling everything),
That Posture of Rest is the One Source of Auspiciousness (in the Universe) and One great Sleep which (gives Rest amidst all the Activities and) finally absorbs the Universe,
My Mind delights in the Auspicious Divine Sleep of Sri Ranga (Sri Ranganatha) (That Auspicious Divine Sleep fills my being with Bliss).

(My Mind delights in the Auspicious Resting Poses of Sri Ranganatha) That Resting Pose adorned with variegated (Garments and Ornaments); That Resting Pose over the King of Serpents (i.e. Adisesha); That Resting Pose on the Lap of Nanda Gopa (and Yashoda); That Resting Pose on the Lap of Devi Lakshmi,
That Resting Pose over the Milky Ocean; (And) That Resting Pose over the Banyan Leaf;
My Mind delights in the Auspicious Resting Poses of Sri Ranga (Sri Ranganatha) (Those Auspicious Resting Poses fill my being with Bliss).

This indeed is Ranga (Srirangam), where if anyone sheds his Body, will not come back again with Body (i.e. will not be born again), if that Body had approached the Lord (i.e. taken refuge in the Lord),
(Glory to Sri Ranganatha) Whose Hand holds the Discus, From Whose Lotus Feet River Ganga originates, Who rides on His Bird Vehicle (Garuda); (And) Who Sleeps on the Bed of Serpent (Glory to Sri Ranganatha).

This Ranganathashtakam, which is Auspicious, He who recites after getting up early in the Morning,
All his desires are fulfilled; (And finally) he attains the Sayujya of Sri Ranganatha (Absorption in the essence of Sri Ranganatha) (and gets liberated).

About Ranganatha Ashtakam:

Ranganatha Ashtakam was written by Adi Sankara Bhagavatpada when he stood before Sri Ranganatha swamy in Srirangam, during his travels. This Ashtakam reveals that Adi Sankara was overwhelmed by Lord Ranganatha swami that his mind is instantly captivated and he revels in that feeling. As a Sanskrit sloka mentions

‘Pratikshanam yannavathaamupaithi thadayvaroopam ramaneeya thaayah’.

Adi Sankara Bhagavatpada sings in praise of Sri Ranganatha Swamy in 8 slokas, of which 7 of them end with the words ‘Ramathaam manomay’. He is immensely captivated by the Lord and he sings by bringing out all the attributes in every word.

In the first sloka he addresses the lord as the cause of all happiness (Aananda roopay), pure consciousness (nijabodha roopay), and manifestation of the ultimate truth (brahma swaroopay) and as the embodiment of the learnings of the Vedas (srutimoorthi roopay) and says that his mind is reveling in Lord Ranganatha.

River Kaveri finds mention in the second sloka. We can visualize Adi Sankara Bhagavatpada taking a holy dip in Kaveri before going to offer worship to Sri Ranganatha, as any devotee would. He addresses Sri Ranganatha as extremely merciful (karuna vilolay) and as the lord of all times (Daithyaantha kaalay) and that the whole world sings in praise of Sri Ranganatha (akhila loka leelay).

In the third, he addresses Sri Ranganatha as he in whom Goddess Lakshmi resides (Lakshmi nivaasay) and in whom the whole world resides (jagathaam nivaasay). This is a reference to Purusha Sooktham in which is said that the whole world emanates from the Lord (Sahasra sheersha purushah….). Jagatguru sees Sri Ranganatha in everything around him – in the sunshine around him (ravi bimba vaasay) and in the heart of every devotee! The fulfillment that Jagatguru experiences when he is standing in front of Sri Ranganatha can be visualized with the flowery language that he uses.

The deity of Sri Ranganatha that is in Srirangam was first worshipped by Lord Brahma himself, before passing it onto the kings of Ikshwaku clan in which is born Lord Ram. After defeating Ravana in the war, Lord Ram thanks Vibheeshana by gifting the deity of Sri Ranganatha to him. But en route from Ayodhya to Sri Lanka, Vibheeshana stops at Srirangam on seeing a big crowd on the banks of Kaveri. The deity of Sri Ranganatha stays put there and Vibheeshana leaves for Sri Lanka as he could not carry it from Srirangam. Most temples are facing east but in Srirangam, Sri Ranganatha is facing south, looking at Sri Lanka. A reference to the fact that Sri Ranganatha was worshipped by Brahma, Vyasa, Indra, Sanakaathi rishis and by every devotee in the world is brought out in the 4th and 5th slokas.

Sri Ranganatha is in blissful sleep on the bed (paripoorna nidray) provided by the body of Anantha or the serpent king, in the milky ocean – Paalaazhi. Goddess Lakshmi is at his feet (srithaika bhadray). These attributes find mention in the 6th sloka.

References to Lord Krishna’s childhood could be found in the 7th sloka – of sleeping on the lap of Nandagopa, his foster father (nandaanga sayee). Sri Ranganatha, who sleeps with his head resting on his right arm (bhujagendra sayee) is the one who slept on Nandagopa’s lap, on the leaf of peepal tree (vata pathra sayee) and he is referred to as the one who sleeps in the milky ocean (ksheeraabdi sayee).

After singing in praise of Sri Ranganatha in the first 7 slokas by mentioning his attributes, Adi Sankara Bhagavatpada praises Srirangam, in the 8th sloka as the place where if a devotee leaves his body, will attain nirvana.

The ‘phalasruti’ – the benefit of singing Sri Ranganatha Ashtakam is mentioned outside of the octet. The devotee who sings this in the morning will fulfill his wishes and will attain the abode of Sri Ranganatha.